| When stress is mentioned (and it seems to be | | | | high blood pressure. His naturopathic doctor is |
| mentioned frequently) it seems to be an | | | | mystified and he is mystified. |
| unavoidable part of modern life. No one raises an | | | | Because he is committed to lowering his blood |
| eyebrow when people say they are stressed. But, | | | | pressure without medication, he purchased a |
| though stress is commonplace to talk about, | | | | Resperate home biofeedback unit (FDA cleared to |
| there is not much information about real solutions | | | | lower blood pressure) and has been using it for |
| that can eliminate the stress that seems to be | | | | about a month and he has not yet seen his blood |
| part of everyone's life. | | | | pressure decrease, hence his call to us. |
| Neither is it commonly understood how many | | | | We have had two lengthy phone conversations |
| chronic conditions are stress related. Doctors | | | | and he appears to be having difficulty learning |
| know that stress is an underlying cause of many | | | | how to relax and manage his stress. He is, |
| chronic health problems for which people seek | | | | obviously, a very motivated and active individual |
| relief. Busy doctors have trouble taking the time | | | | who is used to operating in a mode of focused |
| to outline and oversee a behavioral program that | | | | attention and accomplishment (not too unusual for |
| can e effective for stress management. | | | | our society) and relaxation is foreign to him. |
| Stress management can be difficult because it is | | | | Learning how to operate in a manner (at least |
| best treated with behavioral methods that train | | | | briefly) that is less focused and less aggressive is |
| your body over time how to become a buffer to | | | | a challenge for him. |
| the negative effects of stress. Because it takes | | | | It is interesting in this context to remember that |
| time to learn stress management techniques and | | | | the two cardiologists who originally described the |
| apply them, it can take patience and commitment | | | | Type A Personality noted that the front edge of |
| to continue to apply these techniques until positive | | | | their waiting room chairs were worn down and |
| changes start to occur. If a chronic health | | | | this was the clue which led them to their |
| problem has be present for many years, it can | | | | discovery of the Type A Personality. Their cardiac |
| take weeks or even a few months to see a | | | | patients were literally unable to sit back and relax, |
| change. But, once the benefits of a stress | | | | even while they were waiting for their doctor |
| management system start people often feel | | | | with nowhere else to go. |
| empowered to continue. | | | | Given all the pressure to perform and accomplish |
| For example, I recently spoke with a man who is | | | | in our society it is not surprising that adopting new |
| in his mid 50s (he says his biological age is a | | | | skills to manage stress that involve less |
| 'young' 50) who has an extremely healthy lifestyle | | | | aggressive and more patient behavior can be |
| that includes regular exercise, a vegetarian diet | | | | difficult. Learning these new skills may be difficult |
| and he is not overweight. His problem? He has | | | | but they can also be rewarding. |